A local 300E is for sale, not winter driven so no rust. Dealer maintained until original owner left it to a family member 5 years ago. AC does not work (compressor issue supposedly) and cruise control is flakey, but other than that all electricals work. New rad and ABS module during recent years. The car has around 160,000 miles and is available for around $2000.

How reliable or practical would this car be for a daily driver, especially in winter? What should I pay particular attention to in checking it out (head gasket?). Thanks.

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1983 300TD 240K - 1982 240D 215K - 1996 Dodge Cummins 70K

There are many 1986-89 300E's with over twice that mileage that still serve as daily drivers around here.

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
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190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
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Retired Moderator

Thanks, sounds good.
I suppose key for me would be finding out what this particular specimen might need insofar as repair/maintenance. After all, it's a 25 year old car... Cheers.

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1983 300TD 240K - 1982 240D 215K - 1996 Dodge Cummins 70K

Bingo.

They make excellent snow cars with the right tires.

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Allen Kroliczek
Oak Grove Autosport | Oak Grove Autosport
01 G500, 82 300TD, quite a few more.....

How big is the trunk in a 300E? Big enough to do some hauling? Does the back seat fold down to carry other things, lengths of lumber etc? The other car I am looking for as a daily driver is a Volvo 240, preferably wagon but a sedan would probably be ok too.

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1983 300TD 240K - 1982 240D 215K - 1996 Dodge Cummins 70K

There is a fuel tank standing in between the trunk and the back seat, so no long lumber unless sticking out the window. The trunk is pretty big; enough for 4 sets of clubs.

The passenger front seat back reclines all the way down so you can get quite a bit in there, an lots of room in the back seat area too. Not a wagon or a truck so no full size plywood but you can get a few 2 x 4s in there.

Go though the service records closely to make sure the car has received regular servicing and maintenance. I would check to see if the head gasket has been done. With that amount of miles it probably has been done at least once, maybe twice. Check the expansion tank to see how the coolant looks. You will know it needs a head job if it is contaminated with oil. Check all the electrics such as seats, windows and central locking to see if they are working correctly.

A good set of snow tires and a bit of weight in the trunk and you will be fine for winter driving. They are very easy to control and give plenty of warning when they are going to oversteer providing you are driving sanely.

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1989 300CE

They are good cars, but a RWD would not be my first choice as a good snow car.

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Prost!

There is no reason the head gasket has to be replaced. If you let the car warm up gently it will last forever. My gasket has been replaced when I did the valve guides, still fine after 250K mls.

Rob

My 300E was better than the FWD cars I've driven. This is because the gearing is so high plus a lack of low end torque, its difficult to break the tires even in the rain. With a set of winter tires these cars are great in the winter. At 160k I'd say $2000 is a bit high for typical examples. FSH would make it worth that, easily.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

I didn't say it would need to be replaced, I was suggesting to check to see if it has been done in the past. If there or no leaks or oil contamination, compression etc. then by all means leave it alone. With that many miles on the car it is definitely a possibility that it will need replacing in the future. With the different contraction/expansion rates between the block and head it is inevitable. Mine was leaking a fair amount of oil down the block and my car only had 100k km and was well taken care of. When I was looking around at M103 cars to buy many of the good cars had already had the gasket done. One or two had already had two replacements. They had higher mileage though, close to or over 300k km.

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1989 300CE

True but one-wheel-drive in the snow doesn't get the job done. Need limited-slip (positraction) and very few have it, unfortunatly.

I sometimes wish I had a 300e beater.. Something around $1000 would be cool. I think an older 300e, that you dont really care about, would be a great kid car/beater/spare/etc. I wouldn't expect service records, or really care, on a cheap 300e. As long as it passed my test(s) I would feel fine about the car.

I have yet to drive a w124 in the snow, but I will this year! My old 400e w/o ASR was a handful in the rain. I do have a set of snow tires for the 124.. guess I will see how it works out.


My w123 wagon with studded snows was unstoppable!

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

The W124 is amazing in the snow. My lowered W124 with Blizzak's was simply stunning last year. I was blasting pass SUV's up the snow packed canyon.

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http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...

I think that is what mine are. My TE came with them, only a couple months old when I got it. So this year will be my first use of studless snow tires. I think I am going to run them on my 300D.

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D